Greetings from South Georgia!

Click on photo for larger image (92 KB).

The 56th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Section of the Geological Society of America is shaping up to be an outstanding overview of hot research. We expect geoscientists from the region to come together to share the latest advances and discoveries in their field of expertise. With several symposia, topical sessions, a wide range of discipline sessions, field trips, and workshops, the meeting will have something for everyone who has an interest in the geosciences and geoscience education.

The historic district of Savannah is a fabulous location for a meeting, with many restaurants, Irish and English brew pubs, and amazing art, architecture, culture, and history within walking distance of the convention hotel (the Hyatt Regency Savannah on the Historic Riverfront). Come fall in love with the city's hospitality and savor its quirky personality. Let Savannah's mystique capture your spirit and entice your heart.

As you make your own plans to attend this meeting, please encourage your students and colleagues to do likewise.

See you all in Savannah in March 2007!

— Pranoti AsherLocal Committee Chair

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Department of Geology and Geography and the Applied Coastal Research Laboratory at Georgia Southern University and GSA's Southeastern Section proudly invite you to participate in this meeting, to be held in Savannah, Georgia, on 29-30 March 2007. GSA is one of the oldest and most prestigious scientific societies in the world, and there is no better place than a GSA Section Meeting to showcase your science results, products, and services to the geoscience market. This meeting is growing in service and value to geoscientists, and we encourage you to join the many other leading academic institutions, businesses, and organizations choosing to be a part of it!

View of the historic riverfront.
Click on photo for larger image.

SAVANNAH

The Savannah metropolitan area has a population of approximately 132,000. Georgia's First City and largest port, Savannah has some of the state's oldest houses, largest oak trees, and best restaurants. Sharing an eighteenth-century elegance with Charleston, Savannah found national fame through John Berendt's book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Click here for a printable map courtesy of the Savannah Convention Bureau.

Savannah is located on Georgia's Coastal Plain, where Cenozoic carbonates, claystones, and sands provide a surprisingly rich environment for research. The lower Coastal Plain consists of a series of Quaternary shoreline complexes that parallel the modern coast and grow younger nearer the coast. The most economically significant mineral resource of the Inner Coastal Plain is kaolinite, a mineral used in a variety of industries, from pharmaceuticals to paper. Heavy mineral sands constitute the major economic deposits of the Outer Coastal Plain. Groundwater is another major geologic resource in the Coastal Plain; the Floridan aquifer provides abundant groundwater for domestic consumption, for industry, and for agricultural irrigation. The Georgia coast and barrier islands are under intense pressure for development; while the Georgia coast has escaped a direct hurricane strike (Category 4 or greater) for 77 years, the potential property loss has grown enormously. Thus, the area provides ample opportunities for relevant geologic and environmental research.

Savannah enjoys a subtropical climate that makes outdoor activities possible year-round. The winters are mild, and temperatures in the month of March average around 59 °F (lows in the mid-40s and highs in the upper 60s).

Registration Fees

Full Meeting

One-day

Early

Standard

Professional Member

$180

$190

$80

Professional Nonmember

$190

$200

$100

Student Member

$70

$80

$40

Student Nonmember

$80

$90

$45

Professional Member >70

$80

$90

$45

K-12 Teacher

$50

$50

$25

Guest or Spouse

$50

$60

N/A

Field Trip or Workshop only

$30

$40

N/A

Prices noted are in U.S. Dollars

On-Site Registration and
Pre-registration Packet Pickup Schedule

Hyatt Regency

Wednesday, March 28

5–9 p.m.

Thursday, March 29

7 a.m.–5 p.m.

Friday, March 30

7 a.m.–noon.

REGISTRATION

Early Registration Deadline: 26 February 2007Cancellation Deadline: 5 March 2007

Register early for best selection and value. If you prefer to mail or fax your registration, please download the paper registration form (PDF format). If you have questions about your registration, contact GSA Sales and Service, +1-888-443-4472,
. On-site registration will be at the Hyatt Regency during the meeting. GSA will distribute all badges at the meeting registration table, so no badges will be mailed prior to the meeting for those participants who take advantage of Early Registration.

New on your registration form

Now you can make a tax-deductible contribution to the Southeastern Section Endowment Fund right on your registration form. Simply select the amount you'd like to donate to this fund, which provides student support for travel, research, field camps, etc. The GSA Foundation will provide a match to the SE Section Endowment Fund for all contributions received up to a total of $5000. All donations to the GSA Foundation are tax-deductible.

If you haven't already purchased Abstracts with Programs on your Membership Form, you can order a copy for on-site pickup on the meeting registration form.

CANCELLATIONS, CHANGES, AND REFUNDS

All requests for additions, changes, and cancellations must be received at GSA Headquarters by 5 March, 2007. No refunds will be made on cancellation notices received after this date. Refunds will be mailed from GSA after the meeting. Refunds for fees paid by credit card will be credited to the card identified on the registration form. No refunds will be available for on-site registration, Abstracts with Programs, and event ticket sales.

ACCOMMODATIONS

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hyatt Regency Savannah on the Historic Riverfront (Two West Bay Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401, USA) at US$160 per night for one to three occupants and US$170 for four occupants (additional state, city, and hotel occupancy taxes will be added to the cost). For reservations, please call the Hyatt reservation line, 1-800-233-1234, and request a reservation under "SE GSA 2007." Reservations can also be made by visiting the Hyatt Web site.

Located in the Historic District of Savannah, the Hyatt has high-speed internet capabilities, an on-site fitness center, swimming pool, bar, coffee shop, and one restaurant. Valet parking will be available for a nominal daily fee. The Historic District is a 2.5 mile walking district full of restaurants and bistros, quaint shops, green squares, and grand architecture. Visitor information for the city of Savannah and surrounding areas can be found at www.savcvb.com.

ABSTRACTS

The abstracts deadline (12 December 2006) has now passed. An individual may present only one volunteered paper; however, a person may be a co-author on other papers. Individuals invited to participate in symposia may present an additional volunteered paper.
Contact Nancy Carlson with any abstracts questions, +1-303-357-1061,
.

TECHNICAL SESSIONS

Papers are invited for theme and general discipline sessions in both oral and poster format. Volunteered papers will be considered for any general discipline session as listed on the electronic GSA abstracts form. We encourage undergraduate students to consider presenting their research in oral as well as poster sessions.

Oral Sessions: Oral presentations will be given in the convention headquarters hotel (Hyatt Regency). Conveners of all oral sessions are requested to keep their sessions on schedule. Each speaker will be allowed 20 minutes, which includes ~ 15 minutes for presentation and 5 minutes for questions. Computer projector, screen, and a laptop will be provided for oral presentations. Personal laptops, CD-ROM, memory stick, or zip disks cannot be used for presentations. Slide projectors, overhead projectors and multiple screens will not be available. Authors should bring PowerPoint presentations on a CD-ROM or memory stick to the AV technician in the Speaker Ready Room (Sloan Room, Hyatt Regency) at least 6 hours prior to the beginning of their session. Zip drives will not be available.

Speaker Ready Room Hours:

Wednesday 28 March

1 p.m.–11 p.m.

Thursday 29 March

6:30 a.m.–11 p.m.

Friday 30 March

6:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

Poster Sessions: Poster presenters have one 4-ft by 8-ft horizontal (landscape) display. Posters will be scheduled for half-day sessions. Electrical hookups will not be available; all computer equipment must be battery powered.

2. Coastal and Marine Sedimentary Geology in the Southeastern United States: A Session in Honor of Dr. V.J. "Jim" Henry.Co-sponsored by Applied Coastal Research Laboratory; Skidaway Institute of Oceanography.

The purpose of this field trip is to introduce participants to the complex and interesting natural history of the Georgia Coast and St. Catherines Island. The Island has had a complex accretional and erosional history, much of which has been deduced from stratigraphy and landform analyses. Lying at the head of the Georgia Bight, with no landward influx of fluvial sediment, St. Catherines preserves a record of condensed sedimentation and is hence, a sentinel island for the Southeastern USA. It is intimately associated with the other Golden Isles, barrier islands fringing the Georgia Coast. St. Catherines has been used as a model for heavy mineral exploration and is a prominent landmark in southeastern Georgia and northeastern Florida. A long history of geologic study of the Island and its origin has culminated in the current status of our knowledge. The Island history has been studied for decades and has been the subject of numerous geological, palynological, sedimentological, and stratigraphic investigations. Human history is intimately intertwined with the natural history of the Island; this will be subject of informal discussions.

The field trip will be a two-day trip, originating at the St. Catherines Dock, near Half Moon Marina, Midway, Georgia, either (participant's choice), on Monday afternoon, March 26 (4 p.m.) or on Tuesday morning March 27 (9 a.m.) prior to the SE-GSA meeting. Participants will park their vehicle at the Island Parking Lot, board a 26-foot crew boat and will be transported to St. Catherines Island, Georgia. The boat transportation will be along the North Newport River and Walburg Creek (a waterway in the Intracoastal Waterway) through six miles of pristine salt marsh. On arrival at the Island, participants will be assigned one bed in a cabin that sleeps two persons per room, each in single beds. Cabins are air-conditioned and have a modern bath; linens are provided. Meals will be cooked and served by Island Superintendent Royce Hayes in the Compound's Kitchen. Note that there is no causeway and no store on St. Catherines Island, participants must bring what they need for the trip. Transportation, housing, and meals will be provided. Arrangements for those without car transportation to the Mainland Dock will be arranged.

The field trip will be a one and one-half day trip, originating in Savannah, Georgia. It will include visits to localities in Augusta, Wrens, and Statesboro, GA, with brief visits to sites along the Savannah River in both South Carolina and Georgia. Overnight likely will be on the I-20 by-pass around Augusta, Georgia.

The purpose of this field trip is to introduce participants to the complex and interesting natural history of the Okefenokee Basin and the Okefenokee Swamp. The basin has had a complex history, much of which has been deduced from sedimentological and landform analyses. It is intimately associated with Trail Ridge, a well-known heavy mineral sand source as well as a prominent landmark in southeastern Georgia and northeastern Florida. A long history of studies of the heavy mineral sand ores and their origins has brought economic well-being, and environmental debate to this part of the Southeast. The swamp itself has been studied for decades and, in more recent years, has been the subject of numerous palynological, geochemical, and petrographic investigations of the peats produced by this vast wetland environment. Human histories are intimately entwined with the natural history of the swamp and its surrounding uplands, and this will be subject of informal discussions.

The field trip will be a one-day trip, originating in Savannah, Georgia, on Saturday morning following the SE-GSA meeting. Participants will board a bus at the hotel and will be taken to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge headquarters near Folkston, Georgia. There, they will board john boats that will be used to take them out to a vast marshland known as Chesser Prairie. The ride out will be along the Suwannee Canal, a waterway excavated in the late 19th Century for the purpose of draining the swamp. Stops will be made along the way to point out wildlife, flowers, and other items of interest, as well as filed localities where the depositional history of the peat deposit has been described. As time allows, participants will be permitted to visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bolt Visitor Center and/or the Chesser Homestead. Participants will be brought back to the hotel Saturday evening.

The purpose of this trip is to compare and contrast Tybee Island, a significantly developed and engineered Georgia barrier island, with Wassaw Island, an adjacent barrier island that, as a Federal Wildlife Refuge, is largely unaltered by human activity. These islands, both Holocene in age, differ significantly in their morphology and dominant coastal processes. The trip is geared toward science teachers and students, and will include discussions of coastal geologic development, natural history and the intersection of coastal science and management given the close proximity of the Port of Savannah and the rapid development of the Tybee coastline.

The field trip will be a one day trip, originating in Savannah, Georgia. It will include visits to Wassaw Island by boat and Tybee Island by car. The trip will leave Savannah at 0800 and return to Savannah the same day at approximately 1700 hours. The trip will first take us to Wassaw Island and subsequently to Tybee Island.

GUEST PROGRAM

Several guest and spouse programs are being organized by the local committee. For more information, contact the local committee chair, Pranoti Asher, . You may sign up for tour #1 on the registration form. All other tours listed below are open for guests to enjoy at their leisure.

Made famous by John Berent's best selling book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Mercer House was the setting for many scenes. Click on photo for larger image.

Chippewa Square: Made famous by the motion picture "Forrest Gump". Click on photo for larger image.

Please sign up on the registration form to attend tour #101.

1. Birding trip to Jekyll and St. Simons Islands [101].

Jekyll Island and St. Simons Island are considered two of the best birding spots along the Georgia coast, worth visiting any time of the year. A number of species have been observed on these barrier islands as they serve as resting places in the spring and fall for migrating species on the Atlantic Flyway. Attendees will look for waders, early migrants, herons, and storks.
This full-day trip on Friday, 30 March will be led by Mark Welford, [], Associate Professor of Geography in the Department of Geology and Geography at Georgia Southern University. Mark Welford has led many bird trips to the Georgia coast and is a professional bird guide in Ecuador during his summer breaks. Leave Hyatt at 8 a.m.; return at 5 p.m.

Cost: US$56 includes transportation, entrance fees, and water. Lunch on own in a restaurant on St. Simons Island. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars.

The following tours are not booked through the registration form.
Sign up for these trips using the contact info provided.

2. Lunch at Lady and Sons Restaurant.

The Lady and Sons Restaurant

This is two blocks away from the convention hotel, and features Food Network chef Paula Deen's famous southern home-cooking: fried chicken, collard greens, and other southern delicacies.
For more information, go to www.ladyandsons.com/index.php. The restaurant is located at 102 W Congress Street (at the corner of Whitaker and Congress Streets). Guests line up very early waiting for the restaurant to open. For your convenience, hosts are located at the host stand on Congress Street taking names at 9:30 am for lunch, which starts at 11 am, and at 3:30 for dinner, which starts at 5 p.m. Once you have checked in with the hosts, you may browse around the shops and galleries near the restaurant until close to the seating time that you received from the host team. The Lady and Sons gladly takes priority seating for parties larger than ten. Requests must be made by calling the restaurant at +1-912-233-2600.

3. Savannah River Cruise.

Savannah is a river town, so what better way to get an overview of her harbor and port than to cruise with the River Street Riverboat Company? The 400-passenger Savannah River Queen and the 600-passenger Georgia Queen are triple-decker, red, white and blue stern-wheel vessels that offer a variety of tours throughout the harbor. Choose the popular narrated sightseeing cruise and/or the dinner entertainment cruise, which features a specially prepared buffet dinner.
Both tours leave from the dock at 9 East River Street just a block east of the Hyatt. The narrated sightseeing cruise begins at 2 pm and at 4 pm for one hour each, cost is approximately US$20 (includes tax and port fees). The dinner entertainment cruise leaves at 7 pm and returns at 9 pm and includes dinner from a set menu.

Cost is approximately US$56 (includes tax and port fees but there is a cash bar). For reservations, contact +1-800-786-6404 or +1-912-232-6404.

4. The "Book" Tour.

Experience Savannah by deluxe mini-bus, where it's midnight all day long. Discover the secrets of John Berendt's best-selling Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Be captivated by the story and the colorful characters at the center of this saga about a journalist's experience with one of Savannah's sensational murder trials and his experiences with the locals. A walk through Bonaventure Cemetery, the original home of the infamous "Bird Girl" statue featured on the cover of "The Book" is included.
Go to www.savannahtours.us/tours/tourDetail.cfm/tid/1730 to get more information. Reservations are required. Cost (includes tax) for adults: approximately US$37, age 7–17: approximately US$16. This tours at 10:30 am and lasts for 3 hours. Pickup from the hotel can be arranged at the time reservations are made.

5. Historic District Tour.

A walking tour of the historic district is the most delightful way to discover this oak-shaded coastal city rich with history, architecture, ironwork, and local culture and cuisine.
Go to www.savannahwalks.com/stroll.html for more information. Reservations are required. Cost (includes tax) for adults: US$15; ages 6–14: US$7. There are two tours each day: one begins at 10 a.m., and the second begins at 1 p.m. Each tour is 90 minutes long and leaves from Reynolds Square (corner of E. Congress and Abercorn) in the historic district.

6. Ghost Tour of Historic Savannah.

A walking tour with a spine-tingling presentation of stories about real people, true history, and ghosts and stories from Savannah's spectral past.
Go to www.hauntingstour.com/ for more information. Reservations are requested but not required. Cost (includes tax) for adults: US$17; age 6–14: US$5. There are two tours each evening: one that begins at 7 p.m., and the second one that begins at 9 p.m. Each tour is 90 minutes long and leaves from Wright Square (corner of Bull and York).

CALL FOR SPONSORS

GSA's Southeastern Section welcomes sponsors to help defray the costs of the meeting. We are seeking partial or full support for the Welcoming Party (6-9 p.m. at the Hyatt, 28 March 2007) and morning and afternoon refreshments (29-30 March 2007). When your company or organization sponsors an event, it will be prominently recognized at that event. For more information on sponsoring events at the SE GSA meeting, please contact Dallas Rhodes,
.

EXHIBITOR INFORMATION

Exhibitor Registration Deadline: 1 February 2007

This meeting will attract a wide array of both applied and academic geoscientists from the Southeast region, providing exhibitors with an excellent opportunity to interact with potential customers, colleagues, and students. The exhibit area will be located in the beautiful Harborside Center at the Hyatt overlooking the Savannah River and the historic River Street district, ensuring maximum exposure to a majority of the attendees. The fees for companies will be US$275 and for academic/non-profit organizations/geoscience associations will be US$100. A 6-foot table clothed and draped will be available along with two chairs per table. Electrical outlets, phone lines, and internet access at will be available at extra cost after booth has been assigned. Please direct all your inquiries to Pranoti Asher, .

STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS

Application deadline: 19 February 2007.

Travel grants are available from the Southeastern Section of GSA in cooperation with the GSA Foundation. These grants are open to both undergraduate and graduate GSA Student Members who are enrolled in an institution within the SE section [see boundaries] and personally presenting papers or poster sessions at this meeting. Note: you must register for the meeting before applying for a travel grant. All grant recipients must pick up their reimbursement checks in person with photo ID at the meeting. For more information, please contact Don Neal, Secretary-Treasurer, GSA Southeastern Section, . Not a Member?[ join now ]

This interactive and informative program for undergraduate and graduate students, led by professional geoscientists, will cover real life issues including professional opportunities and challenges that await students after graduation. Plan to attend both free luncheons to hear different presenters each day. Students will receive free lunch tickets in their registration packet to attend both Shlemon Programs, but space is limited: first come, first served.

The John Mann Mentors in Applied Hydrogeology Program. Co-sponsored by GSA Foundation.
Thurs., 29 March, 5-6:30 p.m. Check the registration desk on site for location.

This early evening event presents mentoring opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and recent graduates with interest in applied hydrogeology or hydrology as a career to interact and network with practicing hydrogeologic professionals. This program is a focused, small-scale event that features free pizza for participants. Every student will receive a free pizza dinner ticket in his or her registration packet to attend the Mann Program, but space is limited: first come, first served.

STUDENT VOLUNTEERS

The local committee and section officers of GSA's Southeastern Section would like to extend the opportunity for free registration to a limited number of students. We rely on student volunteers to help meetings run smoothly, and, to show our gratitude, we are pleased to offer student volunteers free registration for the meeting in return for ~6 hours of volunteer work. The deadline for volunteering for SE GSA is 1 February 2007. Contact student volunteer coordinator Chuck Trupe,
, for more information.

SPECIAL EVENTS

The following is a preliminary list of business meetings and other special events tentatively scheduled during the 2007 meeting. Please contact each representative for more information.

If you are interested in hosting an alumni party for your department or institution, please contact Kelly Vance [rkvance@georgiasouthern.edu] to seek assistance in finding a venue for your event in the historic district of Savannah.

Welcoming Party.
6-9 p.m. Wed. 28 March, Harborside East, Hyatt Regency Savannah. The welcoming reception and nearby open exhibits will help start off the meeting. Light hors d'oeuvres, one complimentary drink, and a cash bar will be available. Come and visit with friends and colleagues. The registration desk will be open from 5-9 p.m. this evening.

TRANSPORTATION AND DIRECTIONS

Savannah is located off Interstate 95 in southeastern Georgia and has air transport through the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport (Airport code: SAV). This airport is served by Delta-Delta Connection, United Express, AirTran, Continental Express, Northwest Airlines, and USAirways. Car rental is available through most major car rental companies. Taxies and limousines are also available. The Hyatt is approximately eight miles south of the Savannah International Airport.

From Savannah International Airport or North of Savannah:

Take I-95 South to I-16 East. Exit at Montgomery Street. Turn right on Bay Street. The hotel is three blocks on left.

From Florida:

Take I-95 North to I-16 East. Exit at Montgomery Street. Turn right on Bay Street. The hotel is 3 Blocks on left.

From West of Savannah:

Take I-16 east. Exit at Montgomery Street. Turn right on Bay Street. The hotel is three blocks on left.

Transportation between the Savannah Airport and the Hyatt is available via taxi and shuttle. Airport shuttle information is available at http://hudsonltd6.com/cgi-bin/lca1/res?USERIDENTRY=32155&LOGON=GO or 1-800-845-5582 and provide profile #32155 (reservations requested but walkups accepted). The round trip fare between the airport and the hotel is approximately US$29 and the one-way fare is approximately US$17. Both prices include tax but not gratuity. Airport taxies are available at the curb outside the baggage claim area. The one-way fare between the airport and the Hyatt for a taxi is approximately US$25.

ACCESSIBILITY

GSA is committed to ensuring full participation for conference attendees with disabilities at all events at the 2007 meeting. Every attempt is made for full compliance with the Americans with Disability Act. You may indicate special requirements on your registration form; please inform the local organizing committee of these requirements at least one month prior to the meeting. Accessible rooms are available and can be reserved when making your reservation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS?

For further information, or if you have special requirements, please contact the Meeting Chairs.